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Why I Don't Compete

I can't tell you how many times someone has asked me if I compete or told me that I should compete in a figure competition. A lot of times they can't believe it when I say that I don't compete and don't plan on competing ever. It's just not something that I have any desire to do.

Before I give my reasons why I choose not to compete, let me first say that I do not think anything is wrong with competing, and I don't judge people who choose to do that. I admire what all goes into competing and the courage it takes to get up on that stage! It's just a world that I personally don't want to be a part of.

As I've mentioned before, it just does NOT sound fun to me to stand on a stage in front of a crowd of people in a tiny little outfit for everyone to judge and critique my body. I do that enough to myself! I don't like being the center of attention, and getting up in front of people terrifies me. But that's not even my main concern. Knowing how much of a perfectionist I am, it just seems that competing would only make me compare my body to others even more than I already do, and that is just not a healthy mindset in my eyes. I guess some people can compete just to say they did it and be satisfied no matter how they place, but that would not be me. I would not be okay with not doing well!

Then there is the dieting part of it....Not that I don't have the willpower to do it, but eating chicken and broccoli every 3 hours does not apeal to me whatsoever, no matter how good it makes you look up there on stage for one day. And I just don't think that drastically cutting calories and doing hours of cardio a day that many competitors do for a show is healthy. I can also see how the strict dieting would create unhealthy habits with food and body image problems. I have seen it happen to others, and knowing how I am, I could see it happening to me.

I have found a comfortable place right now, where I can stay pretty lean all year round without being completely obsessive about tracking food, counting calories and macros, and weighing and measuring every piece of food that goes into my mouth. I don't want to get into the whole "off season"/"in season" diet, bulking and then cutting, and all that. I just want to have my every day diet that keeps me sane and in great shape all year round. My goal is to look as good as I can and be as healthy as I can without being obsessive or on a "diet".

So for me personally, the negatives to competing outweigh the positives. I don't need to do a show to prove anything. I don't need a show to keep me motivated to eat healthy and train hard-it's just my life. It is enough for me just having the satisfaction of looking like I compete. ;)

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Comments

I LOVE that this is your mentality because i could not agree more! I have total respect for those that put themselves out there and compete...but it is just not for me! my goal is to continue to be stronger and athletic--in a manner that is attainable through my daily life...I want to look and feel the best that I can be rather than have a "peak" stage body that is not attainable year round!

Excellent post Lindsay!!! I did two back to back shows and that's all it took for me to realize competing wasn't for me. Exactly for the same reason you talked about and others :) . My respects for you knowing yourself and being satisfied with what you have accomplished. You look AMAZING!